Minnesota Divorce Cost Calculator

Minnesota divorce filing fees are set county by county. In Hennepin County, the fee is $402. Add how the papers will be served, whether you have children and whether you agree, to total the court costs from Minnesota's official fee schedules. Runs in your browser; nothing is stored.

Minnesota fees checked against official court sources on October 24, 2026.

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Do you have children under 18 together?
Do you and your spouse agree on everything?
How will your spouse get the divorce papers?

Leave blank if you are filing on your own. If a lawyer gave you an estimate of hours, enter it here.

Leave blank to use the Minnesota average of $307 an hour, or enter the rate a lawyer quoted you.

Estimated court costs in Minnesota

  • Filing fee (Hennepin County example; your county may differ) Source$402
  • Serving the papers (spouse signs the acceptance form)$0
  • Court costs you pay$402

Also note: State law sets $390 ($340 + $50); each county adds its own law library fee, so Hennepin County charges $402. Each spouse pays this fee when filing their first paper.

An estimate from official fee schedules, not a bill. The fee your court clerk charges on the day you file is the one that counts. (October 24, 2026)

Minnesota divorce filing fee

Minnesota divorce filing fees are set county by county. In Hennepin County, the fee is $402. (source)

The statewide part of that fee is made up of:

  • Civil filing fee for a marriage dissolution action (Minn. Stat. 357.021 subd. 2(1)): $340
  • Dissolution filing fee (Minn. Stat. 518.005 subd. 6): $50

State law sets $390 ($340 + $50); each county adds its own law library fee, so Hennepin County charges $402. Each spouse pays this fee when filing their first paper.

If your spouse files a response, they pay $390. In Hennepin County the responding spouse pays $402 with the county law library fee. (source)

The case is filed in the Minnesota District Court, Family Court (county court administrator).

Serving divorce papers in Minnesota

If your spouse is willing, ask the clerk about a form your spouse can sign to accept the papers, which avoids a service fee.

Sheriff and process-server fees are set locally in Minnesota; ask the sheriff's office in the county where your spouse lives.

Required parenting class

When the parents have not agreed on custody or a parenting time schedule, the court must order them to attend or take online at least eight hours of parent education. Each parent pays the provider's fee; providers must use a sliding fee scale, and a party who qualifies for a filing-fee waiver is exempt. (source)

Fee waiver in Minnesota

If you cannot afford the fees, file the Affidavit to Proceed In Forma Pauperis / fee waiver request (Minnesota Judicial Branch IFP forms) (Minn. Stat. 563.01). Presumed for a person receiving listed public assistance, represented by a civil legal services or volunteer attorney program based on indigency, or with annual income not greater than 125 percent of the federal poverty line. (source)

The court or clerk decides whether to grant it and which fees it covers; filing the form does not guarantee a waiver.

Lawyer fees in Minnesota

Clio reports an average billed family-law rate of $307 an hour in Minnesota for 2025. (source) It is an average across lawyers, not a quote. Enter a lawyer's estimated hours above to price them, or enter the rate you were quoted.

What this page does not do

  • It does not file anything. Divorce cases are filed with the Minnesota District Court, Family Court (county court administrator).
  • It does not quote lawyer fees; it prices only the hours you enter.
  • It does not decide fee-waiver eligibility; the court does.
  • It is not legal advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a divorce in Minnesota?

Minnesota divorce filing fees are set county by county. In Hennepin County, the fee is $402. Lawyer fees are extra; Clio's 2025 average billed family-law rate in Minnesota is $307 an hour.

How much does it cost to file for divorce in Minnesota?

It depends on the county. In Hennepin County it is $402. Check the fee schedule of the court where you file.

Can I get my divorce filing fee waived in Minnesota?

You can ask. File the Affidavit to Proceed In Forma Pauperis / fee waiver request (Minnesota Judicial Branch IFP forms). Presumed for a person receiving listed public assistance, represented by a civil legal services or volunteer attorney program based on indigency, or with annual income not greater than 125 percent of the federal poverty line. The court or clerk decides whether to grant it.

Does my spouse have to pay a fee in Minnesota?

Yes, if they file a response: $390. In Hennepin County the responding spouse pays $402 with the county law library fee.

Is a parenting class required for divorce in Minnesota?

When the parents have not agreed on custody or a parenting time schedule, the court must order them to attend or take online at least eight hours of parent education. Each parent pays the provider's fee; providers must use a sliding fee scale, and a party who qualifies for a filing-fee waiver is exempt.

Sources

Last checked October 24, 2026 against official sources.

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